The team behind the resurgence of Macomb Music Theatre is now cooking up a string of Southern-style barbecue restaurants, starting in Sterling Heights next week.

Nightclub owner Wally Mona and Birmingham entertainment lawyer Marc Beginin have converted the former Salty Dog restaurant on Hall Road west of Schoenherr Road into Woody’s Bar-B-Q with a menu focusing on slow-smoked meats.

Mona is the franchiser for the state for the Jacksonville, Fla.-based Woody’s. He said future locations include downtown Detroit, Port Huron, Southfield, Wixom and other spots around Michigan. Some will be full-service restaurants, others will have take-out only.

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Mona studied the market for three years before deciding to make an investment on an east-side location that is also easily accessible to west siders via Hall Road (M-59).

He said the meat and signature sauces are unlike anything Detroit diners have tasted.

“Of course, what first drew me to Woody’s was the incredible flavor of the food,” Mona said.

Most of the meats are served dry with four Woody’s sauces available on the table - the original tangy mustard, a smoking hot version, Southern sweet, and a vinegar-based Carolina sauce.

“We do not sauce our meat because there’s that pink smoke ring that has such a really good taste without the sauce,” said Tammy Poudrier, the company’s marketing director. “It’s the true Southern way.”

In press materials, Woody’s co-founder Woody Mills said the company takes “great pride in hand-picking franchisees based on a number of criteria.” He said Mona has a “deep understanding” of the company’s philosophy of not only serving its customers but also the community.

Mona and Beginin share the giving-back concept. At the Sterling Heights location, they plan to partner with a local school each week and donate 10 percent of the proceeds to the participating school.

The pair last year took re-opened the former Emerald Theatre in downtown Mount Clemens as Macomb Music Theatre. The venue has hosted the likes of Howie Mandel and Michael Bolton.

The 200-seat Woody’s in Sterling Heights will open Jan. 13 and celebrate a grand opening Jan. 24-26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, giveaways, live music and more.

Woody’s, which will be open 11 a.m.-midnight daily, is located at 13100 Hall Road, Sterling Heights. For more info, visit woodys.com.